Container closure



Jan. 12, 1954 J. w. SOFFER 2,665,820

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Aug. 10, 1950 FIG.1 j 6 1m" [1 u B6 5 4,"

2 l T f4 7 9 FIG.3.

7 uvmvmzc FIG, 5, JACK W. Sol-FER W *1 W Patented Jan. 12, 1954 CONTAINER CLOSURE Jack W. Soifer, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Development Research, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 10, 1950, Serial No. 178,605

This invention relates in general to container closures and more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in container closures of the type having means for engagement with the container to form a seal, which means must be broken away to permit use of the container contents.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a container closure which integrally incorporates a tooth member for locking engagement between upper and lower shoulders formed in the neck or discharge spout of a container to prevent unauthorized access to the contents thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container closure having a locking tooth and means associated therewith for readily breaking same to allow removal of the closure from the container.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a container closure which may be utilized as a cap after the disjointure of the locking tooth and which is economically fabricated and durable in usage. 7

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In its general organization, the present invention is somewhat similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 131,804, filed December 8, 1949, for Improvements in Tamper-Proof Container Closures. The structure there discloses a locking tooth substantially in the plane of the lower margin of the closure. It does not rely upon the use of a lower shoulder, nor does it provide a fulcrum to act against such lower shoulder for breaking the locking tooth from the closure, and it differs in other respects also from the present closure structure.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a front view of a container having engaged thereon a closure constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the closure;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the closure; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-27) base [0 of the ear 9 for permitting facile dis- A designates a container fabricated preferably of stainless steel and being of the character adapted to contain materials under gas pressure, such as fluifed cream and the like. Said container A comprises a body section I and a removable top 2, from which there projects upwardly and outwardly a relatively short, cylindrically formed discharge neck 3 having an axial bore 4 for receiving a separately provided valve mechanism (not shown) to permit discharge of the contents, said valve mechanism not forming a part of this invention. Approximately midway its length the neck 3 is diametrally reduced in the formation of an annular groove 5 with upper and lower shoulders 5, 6, respectively.

Provided for closure-wise disposition upon the discharge neck 3 is a closure or cap member B, fabricated preferably. of a thermoplastic, such as a polyvinyl resin, and having a substantially cylindrical body section I which tapers slightly outwardly toward its lower end, its upper end being closed by an inclined top wall 8. Throughout its length the closure Bis of greater diameter than the neck 3. Integrally formed with and projecting outwardly from the body section 1 is an ear or tab 9 having a relatively large base portion In, the inwardly presented face of which is integral and continuous with the inner face of the body section I. Extending upwardly in outwardly spaced relation to the body section I from the base portion It is a stem member H having its upper end contoured to provide a surface l2 inclined oppositely to the inclination of the top wall 8.

In elevated relation to the lower margin of the body section I of the closure B and protruding inwardly from the portion thereof forming the inwardly presented face of the base iii of the ear 9 is a flange-like projection or tooth l3 having its upper surface in a plane substantially normal with the vertical axis of the closure B and having an inclined planar under face to provide a camming surface for reasons appearing more fully hereinafter. The end or central face of the tooth i3 is transversely arcuated and spaced from the diametrally opposite portion of the closure B a distance less than the diameter of the neck 3 of the container A. On its inner face the closure B is scored to provide a line or zone of weakness of frangibility M which defines the jointure of the ear 9 with the tooth l3 from the closure B by fracture therealong.

Formed on the inner surface of the closure B is a plurality of spaced upwardly tapering vertical ribs l5, the inner faces of which are radial- 1y distant from the vertical axis of the closure B substantially equivalent to the radius of the discharge neck 3 for superficial abutment against the outer face thereof when the closure B is disposed thereon.

Since the distance between the end or central face of the tooth; IBi'andithe oppositeportion of the closureB is'less than the diameterof the dis-- charge neck 3, the closure B may only be enclosingly disposed about the neck 3 upon the ap plication of downwardly directed pressurelupon the top wall 8 which causes a camming action to develop between the inclined:underfacemfzthesv tooth l3 and the upper portion of' the neck 34 This action results in the closure B being momentarily deformed by outwardifiexurecalong; the line of weakness 14 causing the tooth [3 to be sprung outwardly allowing its end face tense along the outer face of the neck 3. As the end face of the tooth: l3 loses contact with ;the:upperportion of thei-neck i3 upon a approaching; the :an: nular groove Ethe tooth? l3'.willsnap:inwardly for projection therein with consequentp returmof: the closure B: to its normal configuration... It will'thus be seen-that the line of L weakness 2M provides a lineof flexibility asswell as a? line of fracture,

With the tooth! 3 so engaged withinlthegroove l 5- the closure B is effectively looked upon: the neck-3 in what rnight'be called sealedcondition; Withdrawal of 'theclosure B is prevented'iby: abutment of the upper faceof thetooth .l 3 against the shoulder 6. Therefore; withthe closure 3.. so retentivelyengaged, a purchaser or wouldebeiifif user is positively assured that 1 adulteration or usageof the containercontentshas not occurred since shipment from the processor; In this con nectionit should be noted that the .presence of the ear provides a visual indication-that unaue 40 thorized access to'thecontainer contents has not been made;

ln orderto disengage the closure B from locked position, a downward and outward pressure is: asserted by the *user upon the inclined surfacel2 of the ear 9, saidsurfacel2 providing a convenient pressure-receiving area for the user's: finger; The inclination of -the'-top wall 8 servesto permit easy and comfortable positionment r of I the'users finger upon the said surface 12. Thisforce applied causes i the inwardly presente'd face of the enlarged base portion 10, below-thetooth"l3,' to rotate inward and pressagainst the-- outer surface of the container discharge neck below-thelower'shoulderli'. In thisposition, the 5551 enlarged base portion 1 0 serves as a fulcrum for the ear 9,-which acts as a-lever. Inward'pres--- sure causes further rotation-and resultant deformation of the closure B; until its fracture'is brought about, beginning in the line of weakness l4 adjacent the tooth l3'-and progressing- 'downwardly along the sides of the base (0 to the lower margin of the closure B5 The user can thereby effect clean and complete removal therefrom of the ear 9'and the tooth l3; By thisdis- 6 jointure of the tooth IS, the closure-'B'is freed? for withdrawal from the discharge neck, whereby the valve mechanism (not shown) may be mounted for discharge of the. container: con

tents: i v

Subsequent to thebreaking off of the tooth l3, theclosure B maybeutilized as'a cap through out the usage of the'contain'er 'A' as the engage-:- ment between the vertical ribs l Efiand the outer surface of the discharge neck 3-provides rneans for maintaining the now tooth-less closure B relatively snugly when in closure-wise disposiion.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the container closure may be made and substituted for those? herein shown an'dldescribed'f without departing from the nature' and principle" of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claimsand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; A container closure comprising a cylindrical body 'section'; openlat its lower end and having a top walLlan ear; integrally formed with said closureandhaving'a base portion, the inwardly presented surfaceoffisaid base portion being continuous with the inner surface of the body section; a tooth projecting inwardly from the inwardly presented surface. of said base portion, a stemiprojecting -upwardlyfrom' saidbase .-.portion in outwardly spaced relation to; thezhody section;v the said: base :portion, tooth, and .tab :being' heavilyrconstructedt to form: a lever bearing at' said: base: portionzfulcrum-wise inward against the-container at a point ibelowsaidtooth; and a thinned frangible area in said body section demarking-said :lever: and adapted for: facile fracturing outward of rtheiupper. edge of said tooth.

2. A;container closurelcomprising acylii'idrical body section open attits lower end 'and' having an inclined top walk-an eariintegrally formed with said closure and rhavingia basei portion, the-"in wardly presented surface of said base portion beingicontinuousiwith the inner surface of the body section; a toothaprojecting inwardly fromthe inwardly presented surface 'of said base port1cn,: a stem projecting upwardlyirom said base portion in outwardly spaced relatiort to-the body section;.said stem being'provided'at its upper end with an inclined surface adapted forreceivmg .pressure applied thereon, the inclination of said surface being opposite to that of the top wall, the said base portion; tooth; and tab-being heavily constructed toform' a leverbearing at said base portion fulcrum-wise inwardagainst' the container-at a point below said tooth, and-a thinned frangible-area insaid body section de-- marking said lever and adapted for facilefrac turing outward of the-upper. edge of saidtooth.

3 A} closure container having a; 1 substantially" cylindrical T body section openfat its lower end and having a topwall, an ear projecting out-- wardly from the:- bod'y'section: and' integrally formed-therewith said ear having a base' portion-'the -inwardly presented face of which is'contmuouS'With the'inner surface'of the body section, said body section'being scored tc define the inwardly; presented face of the base portion of the ear by 'a lineof weakness; a tooth projecting inwardly from the inner face of said: base por tion in upwardly 'sp'aced'relation'to ithe bottom margin. of 4 said' body section; a stem projecting upwardly and outwardly'from' the base portion, said stem havingformed at its'upper end an inclined surface for receiving pressure reacted fulcrum-wise by' inward pressure of said'base portion againsttthe container at apoint' below i said. tooth to cause outward andv downward movement of the ear to effect fracture along'the line .of weakness? and-"result: in removal of the ear and tooth'from the-closure.

4;- For: a container having a; cylindrical neck whose outer=-surface"is: annularly recessed .in. the formation';of:. upper andtlower shoulders; at 010+ sure molded of frangible material having a top wall and a substantially cylindrical body adapted to enclose both the upper and the lower shoulders of such container neck, a tab molded integrally therewith having an enlarged base portion adapted to bear against such lower Shoulder in fulcrum-wise engagement, the said tab further having an outstanding stem adapted to receive finger pressure downward thereon, and further having a tooth portion projecting inwardly 10 from said cylindrical body at a point spacedly above the lower margin of said enlarged base portion, and a thinned area in said cylindrical body circumscribing the said base and tooth of said tab, the said closure being so constructed and 15' arranged that the bending moment arising from such ffing'j'er pressure on said stem and the fulclaim-wise engagement of said base against the lower shoulder orsuchcor'ltainer neck serves to fracture the thinned area commencing above said tooth and progressing downwardly to effect removal of the entire tab from said closure.

JACK W. SOFFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

